Jamie Raskin: “I would say, in closing, that I was moved by what Mr. Palmer had to say, that democracy is based on consent, and consent…”

“I would say, in closing, that I was moved by what Mr. Palmer had to say, that democracy is based on consent, and consent is based on access, but there is no access if you don't have transparency. I think about something that James Madison said: ``And a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives.'' So people need to have knowledge of everything that our government is doing. We don't want government entities entering into secret, sweetheart settlements with different litigants. It has got to be open to the whole public. Mr. Speaker, I thank him and I thank the chairman for bringing this forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.”